Category Archives: Child Mental health Research

We pay for it, so let’s keep scientific research in the public domain. This is a bill to keep it in the hands of big research publishers who charge thousands of dollars for a subscription to newest studies. A new … Continue reading →

Only in the last few years have I realized guilt had become my final and most tenacious addiction. The cure was letting go of the facade of “normalcy” and publicly telling my story. That led to a professional U-turn, where … Continue reading →

Self-discipline, also called “self-control,” or “self-regulation,” is considered by most of us as an essential trait to learn on the way to adulthood. Without it, a person doesn’t share, play well with others, work as a member of a team … Continue reading →

Dr. Frieder believes that her patients are the ones most capable of assessing the risks and benefits related to their own conditions. This work will affect how she counsels her patients, but not what she recommends. “You are always going to try to treat them first with psychotherapy,” she said. “But if they are severely depressed, they are going to need medication.”

Important to have all the facts. Yes, there is a 3 in 1000 (infants) risk for pulmonary hypertension problems, which must be weighed against the risk of preterm birth and childhood depression if mother remains untreated…MentalHealthMomBlog.

An extremely important new study in light of the raging debate about whether there is a neuro-biochemical basis for depression and other mental disorders. New research underscores the role of neurotransmitter depletion.

Here I offer my top ten tips for mental wellness, drawn from research for A Lethal Inheritance and posted today on the site Divine Caroline as “New Year’s resolutions” for moms. I think you’ll find them useful on any day of the year.

Maltreated children show same pattern of brain activity as combat soldiers. This shocking but not surprising research finding makes it even more important to consider the child first when debating “whether to get involved.”

This is not a new report (2009) but it is extremely timely as more and more women must weigh the risks and benefits of staying on an antidepressant before, during and after pregnancy. Its recent research shows that only 15% of depressed mothers receive treatment for their depression — despite the negative impact of maternal depression on their child’s emotional and cognitive development. If you are seeking more information for yourself or for someone you love, check this out!

The Mayo Clinic with funding from the feds (SAMHSA) has weighed in on the issue of early recognition and intervention for possible symptoms of mental disorders by issuing a list of warning signs that should be seen as red flags by parents –Culled from a Mayo study of 6000 child/teen cases of various disorders.

Here’s the list….

If your child has any of these 11 warning signs, he or she may have a mental health disorder and should be referred to treatment as soon as possible:

Feeling very sad or withdrawn for two or more weeks

Seriously trying to harm or kill themselves, or making plans to do so

Sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing

Involved in multiple fights, using a weapon, or wanting badly to hurt others

Severe out-of-control behavior that can hurt the teenager or others

Not eating, throwing up, or using laxatives to lose weight

Intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities

Extreme difficulty in concentrating or staying still that puts a teenager in physical danger or causes school failure

Repeated use of drugs or alcohol

Severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships

Drastic changes in behavior or personality

According to Mayo…”This data substantiates what we already knew, that there are warning signs of significant mental illness, but children and adolescents aren’t getting help because health care providers don’t share the same language,” said Dr. Abigail Schlesinger, medical director of outpatient behavioral health services at Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh.

Victoria Costello

I’m a Mom Who Blogs About Neuroscience

In addition to being the mother of two sons, I'm a science writer, focusing on the mental health concerns that can rob a parent's much needed sleep. A little over 10 years ago, when my then 17 year-old son Alex was diagnosed with schizophrenia, I desperately needed a blog like this. In my posts, I put the latest research about child and adolescent mental health into plain talk that parents can use. You'll hear about treatment that includes therapy and medication. I have no agenda, other than mental wellness. There's plenty here also on emotional resilience, and prevention. Please ask your own questions, and I promise to do my best to find answers.

Lastly, in this blog I am speaking only for myself as an individual. The views expressed in any post or article do not represent those of my current employer, PLOS, The Public Library of Science.

Disclaimer

The content of this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be and should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other medical professional. MentalHealthMomBlog does not provide clinical advice, nor should its contents be considered clinical advice. Should you have any healthcare-related questions, please call or see your physician or other healthcare provider promptly.